NYC landmark vandal faces indictment for defacing with hate symbols
Date
3/16/2023 8:10:46 AM
(MENAFN) James Ryan, a 40-year-old man from Colorado, has been indicted on hate crime charges for allegedly defacing public spaces in New York City with Nazi symbols and racial slurs. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office announced that Ryan has been charged with three felony counts of criminal mischief as a hate crime, as well as three felony counts of aggravated harassment in the first degree.
According to Manhattan prosecutors, Ryan drew a swastika and an anti-Black slur on a pillar at the entrance to City Hall on December 13, 2021. The next day, he allegedly spray-painted the same offensive images and a "large swastika" on the iconic Charging Bull statue near Wall Street and outside a CVS pharmacy in the Financial District.
The New York City Police Department had released surveillance footage and photos of an unknown suspect wearing a poncho and backpack who was captured defacing the entrance to City Hall and the Charging Bull statue. However, the investigation eventually led to the identification and indictment of James Ryan for these crimes.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg condemned the actions of the accused and expressed that hate has no place in New York City. Bragg stated that these offensive and damaging actions will not be tolerated, and the charges against Ryan reflect the seriousness of these crimes.
The indictment of James Ryan serves as a reminder that hate crimes are not only reprehensible but also illegal. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office continues to prioritize the prosecution of hate crimes to ensure justice for victims and to send a message that such behavior will not be tolerated in New York City.
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